Folding poultry-coop.



No. 643,978. Patented m. 2o, 1900.'

H. m. RAMsAY. FULDUIG POLTRY CUOP.

\ (Application filed Jun'e 21, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

HENRY M. RAMSAY, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

FOLDING POULTRY-COOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of' Letters Patent No. 643,978, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed June 21l 1899. Serial No. 721.364. (No model.)

To all wtmt it 77u01/ concern:

Beit known that I, HENRY M. RAMsAY,aciti zen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Poultry-(loops, and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the gures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specitication.

My invention relates to a folding coop for fowls; and its primary object is to provide a coop which may be readily folded into small compass for transportation and quickly unfolded for use.

The invention is designed especially for use at fairs and poultry shows, and to this end it is so constructed that its partitions may be removed to increase the size of the compartments of the coop, whereby the area of said compartments may be varied with respect to the number of Afowls to be accommodated therein.

The construction of the coop will be fully described hereinafter, and its novel features particularly pointed out in the appended claims, in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding coop embodying my invention with its hinged cover in raised position to more clearly show the several partitions within the coop. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing in full lines the hinged cover turned down against the back of the coop and in dotted lines the normal position of said cover; and Fig. et is an elevation, partly broken away, of the supporting-table forming the floor or bottom of the coop. Fig. 5 shows the coop in folded position for transportation.

The reference-numeral 1 designates a platform or table constituting the iioor and supporting-base of the coop and provided with legs' 2, arranged in pairs, connected by cross-bars 3, and pivotally secured at their upper ends to the inner sides of flanges 4t, depending from the edges of the table. These legs are held in inclined position by braces 6 and are adapted to be folded up against theunder side of the table to rest within and finsh with depending flanges 4, when desired. The braces 6 are pivoted at their upper ends tothe inner sides of the flanges 4 of the table and are provided at their lower ends with pins 5, which fit in semicircular recesses 5, formed in the legs. Thus the braces and legs may be readily disconnected fromeach other and folded independently. The table forms a support upon which the sides and ends of the coop rest without the employment of fastening devices of any character.

The front of the coop consists of a rectangular frame comprising parallel horizontal bars 7 and 8 and vertical end bars 9. Any desired number of vertical posts or bars lO maybe secured between lthe bars 7 and 8, preferably at equal distances apart. The front of the coop is closed by a series of vertical wire rods 1l and 12, the rods 11 being stationary, while the rods 12 are secured at their lower ends to a block 13 and are loosely secured at their upper ends in openings in the upper frame-bar '7, so that said rods 12 will slide through said openings when the block 13 is raised to serve as a door for the coop. The block 13 is formed at its ends with holes 14, through which the adjacent fixed rods 11 pass to guide said block.

The back of the coop also consists of parallel horizontal bars 15 and 16, connected by vertical end bars 17 and a series of intermediate vertical bars 1S, the latter being located opposite to the bars 10 of the front of the coop.

The back is closed, preferably, by a wire-net-.

ting 19, secured on the inner sides of the framework of the back.

2O designates the cover of the coop, consisting of parallel longitudinal bars 21, connected by parallel cross-bars 22 and havinga covering of woven wire or netting 23. This cover is hinged to the end bars 17 of the back by hinges, each comprising an angle-arm 24E, secured to one of said end bars, and a strap 25, secured to one of the end bars of the cover and pivotally secured to the upper ends of the adjacent angle-arm 24. This special form of hinge connection allows the cover to be turned down against the back to rest parallel therewith, as shown in Fig. 3.

IOO

The ends of the coop are closed by partitions 26, each of which is pivotally secured at its four corners to the front and back by pivotal connections comprising corner-plates 27, secured to the top and bottom bars of the front and back, and straps 28, secured to the top and bottom edges of the partitions and by pivot-pins 29 to the corner-plates 27.

The interior of the coop is divided into separate compartments by means of removable partitions 30, each preferably consisting of an imperforate board, so that the fowls in one compartment cannot be seen or molested by thoseinthenextadjacentcompartment. The means for removably securing these partitions 30 constitute a feature of the invention, said means comprising triangular metallic plates 3l, secured to the top and bottom bars of the framework, metal straps 32, secured to the top and bottom edges of the partitions, and split keys or cotter-pins 33, passing through registering openings in the plates 3l and straps 32. The front and rear edges of the partitions are grooved at the points 34 to accommodatethesesplitkeys orcotter-pins. As shown in the drawings, these partitions 30 are located opposite the vertical posts of the front and back, said posts constituting extensions of the partitions.

It will be apparent that the partitions 30 may be readily removed by removing the keys 33 and that by removing one or more of said partitions the number and size of the compartments can be regulated as desired.

When it is desired to fold the coop for transportation, the cover is turned back to the position shown in Fig. 3, when the partitions may be swung either to the right or left to cause them to rest against the back of the coop, thefront being thus brought into close parallel relation to the back, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The legs of the table are also folded,

so that said table can rest against the coop. It will be observed that the coop when in position for use is open for the inspection of its contents at both front and back.

If desired, a suitable fastening may be elnployed for securing the hinged cover to the front of the coop, although ordinarily such fastening is not required.

When it becomes necessary to arrange the coops in tiers one above the other, the table or oor of the uppermost coop, with its legs folded, will rest flat upon the hinged cover of the lower coop.

If so desired, the end partitions 26 may be pivotally secured by split keys similar to those employed with the partitions 30, thus making said end partitions removable.

The coop when constructed as above described may be folded into very small compass, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, and is capable of being quickly unfolded and set up for use.

I claiml. A folding coop for fowls comprising a back, and front, a cover hinged to the back so as to fold down flat against it, and a series of parallel vertical partitions, adapted to be folded between the front and back, the end partitions being permanently pivoted to the front and back, while one or more of the intermediate partitions is removable and grooved at its side edges for thereception of removable pivot-pins, and split pins fitting said recesses.

2. A coop for foWls, comprising a front frame provided with bars, a back and cover covered with netting in combination with solid partitions pivotally secured to the front and back, one or more of said partitions between the end partitions being formed with grooves at its side edges for the reception of removable pivot-pins, and split pins fitting said grooves, whereby said partition or partitions are removable to increase the capacity of one or more of the compartments of the coop.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

HENRY M. RAMSAY. lVitnesses:

FRED F. DEXTER, SIMON HUNT. 

